marine to run the war in afghanistan or iraq. so if this latest killing is any indication at all, he's going to have to live up to that motto. >> reporter: general john allen has no illusions about assuming command of the war in afghanistan. >> there will be tough days ahead. >> reporter: look at day one. as general david petraeus was handing over control to allen, afghan officials were preparing to bury john mohammed khan, a mentor to president hamid karzai. two men climbed his outside walls sunday negotiate and as nafted cha -- assassinated khan in his own home. >> there are those who are trying to go after president karzai and try and break him and his security situation. >> reporter: last month the intercontinental hotel was stormed in kabul and it took coalition helicopters to fly in to take them out. then a trusted guard assassinated, the president's half brother, ahmad wali karzai, and analyst jeffrey dressler says it proves both kabul and carsy are not immune and could be taliban attempts to improve their negotiating powe